ESSENCE Poll: What Can Chicago Do to Curb Gun Violence?

At least 40 people were shot—seven of them fatally—this Father's Day weekend in Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that it might just be the city's bloodiest weekends this year. The youngest victim is 15-year-old Michael Westley who was shot by police after he allegedly pointed a gun at them.

The spike in violence comes just as the city saw a drop in the murder rate in 2013. As of last week, Chicago's murder rate was down 34 percent, as reported by the Times. The Chicago Police Department continues to point out that violence is down this year due to heavier policing of gangs. If you could, what would you recommend the city do in order to reduce gun violence? Share your thoughts and comments with us below.

QUESTION:

How should Chicago lessen gun violence?

Choices

More police presence in the affected neighborhoods

The community needs to band together to help fight this

This isn't only Chicago's problem, its now federal. The government should step in.